The delegation is more for pressure on UK authorities to ease the visa restrictions on Chinese than for an actual marketing/wooing mission to China. The restrictions are ridiculous and do need to be eased.

— Rafat Ali

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A “best of British” delegation stretching from Arsenal football club to Harrods and Selfridges department stores will embark on the largest ever British tourism mission to seduce Chinese big spenders next month.

Almost 40 retailers and leisure companies are travelling to Shanghai with VisitBritain…The charm offensive is designed to convince Chinese tour operators and wealthy individuals to come to Britain despite stringent restrictions on UK visas, which the retail and leisure industries are lobbying the government to ease.

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